Normally dead cells just shed, but if this process doesn’t work in the right way the dead cells clog pores. At the same time the glands keep producing sebum and oil begins to collect inside the pore, making it larger and creating comedones. There are many reasons why pores become enlarged. The first reason is inappropriate exfoliation of cells.
First of all lets explain what pores are. A pore is an opening of a follicle onto the surface of skin. The hair and the sebaceous oil (also known as sebum) that is created by the glands, reach the top of the skin through the pores. So basically a pore is an opening through which hair and oil get to the top of the skin. Pores play an important role in skin physiology. First, that’s where our hair grows from and second, skin oil keeps the skin PH-balanced.
What are the reasons of enlarged pores?
Pores enlarging usually happens because of poor hygiene. If you don’t clean your face properly dirt and sebum begin to collect around pores, drawing attention to pores and making them look bigger than they really are. The second reason is aging. As the time goes by our skin becomes thicker and loses collagen that keeps our skin elastic and our pores tight. So when we lose collagen our pores become bigger. The third reason is sun damage. Finally the problem of enlarged skin is genetic. People who have oily skin (it is hereditary) usually have larger looking pores.
Does microdermabrasion help to treat enlarged pores?
Skin imperfections can be treated in many ways such as chemical peels, laser resurfacing or microdermabrasion. Enlarged pores do not require invasive treatment so using chemical peels or laser will not be worth the risks. Microdermabrasion is the least invasive and the most gentle skin rejuvenation procedure.
Professional microdermabrasion peels of the dead cells that lay on the top of the skin. It also abrades the blackheads off. Than the suction pulls the remaining dirt and oil out of the pore. Microdermabrasion also helps collagen to produce, that keeps our skin elastic and our pores tight, as was already mentioned. After this procedure the pores turn to their natural size because there is nothing left to make them bigger.
Many people who tried microdermabrasion were very satisfied with the results. The pores looked smaller and cleaner.
But there are, of course, alternatives to microdermabrasion. In special cases laser resurfacing and chemical peels can be used. They also exfoliate the dead cells, remove blackheads and eliminate bacteria. Pores close down after this procedures. But you need to remember that these procedures are very invasive so before using them consult with a dermatologist. Another way of treating enlarged pores is using topical Vitamin A treatments. They prevent cells of the pore from sticking together. When used on blackheads, they loosen the plug and then peel it away. Alpha hydroxy (isolated from sugar-crops such as pineapple, sugar beets, and unripe grapes) and Beta hydroxy (found in wintergreen leaves, sweet birch bark and willow bark) acids can also be used. They destroy the “glue” that holds the dead cells together.
